East End (Hear No Evil Trilogy #1) - Nana Malone Page 0,10

with that. The father I knew wouldn’t do that. He wasn’t a misogynist. But recently, I’d been starting to wonder.

Dad called for the status checks. Around the table we went. Denning had been working on a drug case that was just now coming to an end. They had found the perpetrators in Ibiza. But somehow, Denning had to be there for several weeks trying to suss the guy out. Ibiza wasn’t that big.

Finally, my father reached me. His gaze just roamed over me, narrowing slightly as he looked at my cheek. Was the bruise visible?

I stared back, fighting the instinct to reach up and touch my face. “Nyla, why don’t you tell the team where we are on your assignment.”

Amelia and I both shifted in our seats. The shitty thing was I was back at square one with few leads. “Well, we’re still waiting for an update on the jewelry heist. Right now, I can’t get anyone to report anything stolen out of Grimwald Authenticators. Even though I know for certain something happened there that night. The cameras were taken out in precise fashion, as if done deliberately and not by malfunction, so we’re still digging.”

For the last year, I’d been on the hunt for a ring of jewelry thieves. It had led me down a path of human traffickers, whom I’d caught, but I’d never solved the diamond heist. And my theory was why I was currently sporting a bruise and taking the arse kicking.

“Leads?”

It didn't matter what I knew my father was going to say, I had to try. I pulled out photos of this year’s Gem Gala. “I’d like to take a run at Prince Lucas Winston. He was at the Gem Gala. He and his sister, but still neither he nor his sister, a prince and princess, had anything stolen.?” I left out his connection to the London Lords on purpose.

My father shook his head. “No. You already spoke to Jessa Ainsley, yes?”

“Well, yes, but I think he could be helpful if you just let me talk to him. We’re running out of leads.”

“You are a very good agent, Nyla. Find another angle to work.”

I sat forward, struggling with my emotions and the need to keep my voice even. “All due respect, sir, he’s tied in with the London Lords, and they are up to something. The moment I started sniffing around them as part of my investigation, I was given a huge case. It’s basic redirection. What don’t they want me to look at? I just need time. All my instincts are flaring.”

My father planted his hands on the table. “Then perhaps you can offer me some proof of wrongdoing? Why the prince?”

Because he was connected to the London Lords. I swallowed and bought myself some time. “He and his sister are clearly in the middle of this. He’s part of the distraction from the London Lords. And he’s a known associate of one Tony Angelo, who we know is wanted for grand larceny, assault, burglary and a host of other crimes.”

Denning piped up sarcastically with, “And let’s not forget he’s been seen standing next to the London Lords in a photo. Clearly an admission of guilt.”

I scowled at him. “That’s not what I’m saying, but it’s worth —”

My father put up his hand and then shook his head. “Sorry, Nyla, find another way. Besides, the same people that you’ve been going after helped you close a human trafficking ring. And you got all the credit for that. But right now, you are getting a new assignment. I will not have you poking at these people unless you have something tangible. A prince for Christ’s sake.” He rolled his eyes. “You have no hard evidence.”

“I’m telling you they gave me a distraction because they don't want me watching them.”

“Drop it.” He then turned his attention to the rest of the team as we continued going around the circle. When he got back to Denning, he gave him a nod.

Denning stood like my father had. As if he had rights and privileges above any of the rest of us. “Meanwhile, I’ve been hot on the case of Francois Theroux. There are whispers that he’s possibly turned up in Spain, so I’ll be putting together a small task force to do some reconnaissance and chase him down.”

God, he was so transparent. Francois Theroux was my father’s white whale. He had been chasing that man for nearly thirty years.

He and my father apparently had gotten in some cat-and-mouse